Card index follower block and mounting therefor



July 14, 1942. F. L. w. LINK 2,289,655

I CARD INDEX FdLLOWER BLOCK AND MOUNTING THEREFOR I Filed April 30, 1941 VIIIIL-JTI-Y:

INVENTOR. Fomssr L. M! LINK.

ATTORNEYAS'.

Patented July 14, 1942 CARD INDEX FOLLOWER BLOCK AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Forest L. W. Link, Silverton, Ohio, assignor to The Globe-Wernicke Company, Norwood, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 30, 1941, Serial No. 391,149

5 Claims. (Cl. 129-31) This invention relates to the design of a card index follower block or compressor plate by which the cards in a card index drawer are held in predetermined position in the drawer.

It is the object of my invention to provide a card index follower block and compression plate which provides automatic compression of the plate against the cards until the plate is purposely released.

Another object is the provision of a compression plate having a finger receiving curved portion which facilitates the movement of the compression plate and thereby permits ready adjustment of the same. Another object is the provision of a card index follower block or compression plate made from a single formed and punched sheet metal piece and having a single piece of spring wire bent in such a manner with respect to the cardguide'rod which the spring frictionally engages as to make the device simple and economical to construct, easy to insert into operative position in a card index tray, and light in weight so that freight charges on shipments may be materially reduced.

A further object is the provision of a slider plate or follower block for a card index drawer or tray in which the friction latch is operative on the guide rod only when it is desired to move the plate backwardly away from the withdrawal end of the drawer but in which the plate may be readily moved forwardly toward the withdrawal end of the drawer without its being necessary to rock the plate.

The foregoing objects and other objects and advantages to which reference will be made in the ensuing disclosure, I accomplish by that certain combination and arrangement of parts of which I have shown a preferred embodiment.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a plan view of my improved device.

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the frictional latching device.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the follower plate from the side opposite to that from which Figure 4 is shown.

The tray or drawer is of conventional type having a bottom I, sides 2, a back wall 3, and a front wall 4, ordinarily provided with a handle by which the drawer is manipulated in and out in a filing cabinet. Longitudinally and centrally of the drawer there is a rod 6 which ordinarily is removably mounted so that it may be moved lengthwise of the drawer so that one end of the rod will be free for receiving one or more follower plates.

The follower plate or block is generally indicated at l and is preferably formed from a cut and stamped piece of sheet metal or other suitable material such as resinous condensation material.

An angular extension 8 at the bottom of the plate is bent back at an angle providing a ledge 9 which receives the ends of the latching and locking spring. An aperture I0 provides means for mounting the follower on the rod 6. In the particular illustration a cut out portion H provides means for grasping with the fingers for repositioning. The top of the follower is bent back as indicated at 12 thereby providing a convenient thumb and finger grasping portion for conveniently rocking and moving the follower on the rod 6.

Adjacent the aperture II] the sheet material is extruded or bent backwardly as indicated at l3, thereby providing an edge l4 which grips the rod 6 when force is exerted against the follower tending to press it backwardly in the drawer. When the follower is rocked forwardly the friction lock I4 is disengaged and the follower may be moved freely on the rod.

A spring element has ends I5 which engage the ledge 9. The spring then extends forwardly and has curved abutments l6 which bear against the front side of the follower, and keeps the follower body in a plane at right angles to the lengthwise center of the drawer.

Both parts of the spring element extend forwardly from the abutments and joint medially of the element in a bowed portion I! which rides on the rod 6. Both portions it of the spring element are in constant tension causing the follower to remain in such position on the rod as will cause the locking edge l4 to remain in frictional engagement with the rod.

When the spring is in normal tensioned position the follower plate cannot be forced back along the rod in the drawer but the follower may readily be moved forwardly in the drawer Without rocking the follower. This is because the edge I4 frictionally grips the rod only during one direction of movement of the follower on the rod.

When the follower is to be moved backward on the rod the thumb and finger portion 12 is grasped and the follower rocked forwardly. Such manipulation releases the interlocking edge [4 from engagement with the rod and the follower can then be freely adjusted.

I have shown only one preferred form of my invention, but it will readily be understood that change of shape of the parts retaining the same mechanical operative principle are within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination with a drawer in a filin cabinet having a follower mounting rod, a follower having an aperture whereby it is mounted on said rod, said follower comprising an integral plate having a binding portion adapted to bind against said rod when said plate is tilted slightly in one direction, and a spring element fastened to and extending from said plate and yieldingly riding on said rod and tilting said plate to binding position, said spring element having means 20 engaging said rod to maintain transverse alignment of said plate.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which said binding portion is constituted by a deformation of said aperture.

3. A device according to claim 1 in which said spring element has a portion providing lateral engagement with said rod to maintain transverse alignment of said plate.

4. A device according to claim 1 in which said spring element has a notched portion to engage said rod, providing lateral engagement with said rod to maintain transverse alignment of said plate.

5. A device according to claim 1 in which said spring element is of wire and has a bowed portion to engage said rod, providing lateral engagement with said rod to maintain transverse alignment of said plate.

FOREST L. W. LINK. 

